Archive check for the ‘Grapeness’ Category:

Performance-Enhancing Wines

Three of the

When we first started the club, there was talk about how few bottles it may take to reach 100 grape varieties. Perhaps 10-20 with Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Port field blends etc. Those speculations now seem quaint and completely blown away by these bottles of vinous steroids

  1. Leth’s Simply Wow! 216 grape varieties (186 confirmed)
  2. Giribaldi Cento Uve 152 grape varieties (125 confirmed)
  3. Pheasant’s Tears Poliphonia 417 grape varieties claimed

Depending on how you count them, that’s 728 to 785 varieties in 3 bottles! (Heinz, you’ve got nothing on these!) These have been languishing for a few years now in my cellar. Quite frankly, I’ve been afraid to open them, not knowing what kind of horrors or delights might be unleashed by this veritable Pandora’s Box. And, of course, I will be tempted to make the ultimate cuvee that can propel any mere mortal into the exalted Heptavin (700) level of Wine Century Club membership. It will undoubtedly send Deborah and me well over 1000.

Is this fair? I’m not so sure, especially when our current holder of the Grand Prix du Cépage, has never tasted the Poliphonia (he has had the Leth’s Simply Wow!, however). I admire Chris Hamm’s remarkable work in coming up with a speculative list of the 417 varieties in the Poliphonia, but unfortunately, they can’t be confirmed with the winemaker. He and his wife Gayle have recently submitted their applications for 1,220 (wow!) grape varieties. A ruling by the Committee was necessary.

The Committee came back with this ruling:

Applications with grape counts that include performance-enhancing wines will be permitted. However, given the speculative nature of the count in the Poliphonia, all certificates will be marked with an asterisk (like Barry Bond’s record-breaking baseball in the Baseball Hall of Fame). Furthermore, Poliphonia grapes will not count in the Grand Prix du Cépage.

By Delaywaves – Own work, CC BY 3.0

An Exaggeration

It has been a chaotic year, but The Wine Century Club is still going strong. Rumors of its demise are a gross exaggeration.

If you have not received your certificate or a reply to any concern, please contact me directly at steve@winecentury.com.

Thank you,

Steve De Long







Ask Decanter

John Watson of Michigan is looking for a society of grape lovers on Decanter’s website: Is there a society for grape lovers?

Hopefully he’ll be a member soon!

Certificates

If you’ve been concerned about the glacial pace that certificates are being sent out, please take note that more have been sent out this week.

As of July 4, 2017 we currently have:

Total Members 1,740

US 1,420
Canada 80
UK 62
Australia 25
The Netherlands 16
Germany 14
Finland 13
Hong Kong 12
Sweden 12
Brazil 9
Norway 9
Spain 9
France 8
Greece 8
Switzerland 7
Denmark 5
Italy 5
Belgium 2
Hungary 2
Ireland 2
Mexico 2
Poland 2
Portugal 2
Turkey 2
UAE 2
Bahamas 1
Bulgaria 1
Czech Republic 1
Estonia 1
India 1
Macau 1
Georgia 1
Romania 1
Russia 1
Taiwan 1

Regular (100) 1,556
Doppel (200) 118
Trebble (300) 39
Quattro (400) 18
Pentavini (500) 7
Hexavin (600) 2

Men 1,137
Women 603

Article in Decanter: The Grape Crusaders

Here’s an excellent article on the club by John Stimpfig in Decanter: The Grape Crusaders: Wine Century Club

Official Wine Century Club T Shirt

The perfect actionwear for epic tastings or working off your weingut.

Now available at www.delongwine.com

Le Grand Prix du Cepage 2014

The competition is heating up. I have word from past champion Tom Reagan Jr. that he is at 600.

Onward and Upwards

The Wine Century Club Stacked

The Wine Century Club now has 1,378 members worldwide. Stacked end to end (and assuming an average height of 5ft 6in) we now are collectively taller than Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia.

Great Wine News

GreatWineNews

An inspirational article by über member Dan Traucki published in the May 2013 Great Wine News.

The Wine Century Club Adopts Official Book

The book photographed next to a man for scale

Wine Grapes, the new and amazing tome by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz has been adopted as our Bible, Talmud, Quran, Book of Mormon etc.

It will be used as the authoritative word in resolving deputes about synonyms, clones etc. No more arguments like:

“Brunello is an independent grape variety!”
“I believe that it’s actually Sangiovese.”
“How would you know? Do you know more than wine makers in Montalcino??!!!!”

If you don’t have a copy yet, check out the official site: Winegrapes.org for the best deal on it worldwide.

7th Birthday Grape Count

Grape Count:

179

Please post your wine name and grape varieties tasted below in the comments below.

Running Total:

1. Kerner
Chardonal
Cabernet Sauvignon Terry Sullivan
Vermentino
Nuragus Jim and Patricia Breed
Chardonnay
Castelao
Camarate
Tinta Miuda
Touriga Nacional Bob Gregg
Piedirosso
Aglianico Tim Faust
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillion
Gewürztraminer
Syrah
Nerello Capuccio
Nerello Mascalese
Blaufränkisch
Zweigelt
Merlot
Viura (Macabeo)
Palomino Fino Dennis Sullivan
Roupeirio
Antao Vaz
Perrum Diane Freeland
Agioritiko Mark Freeland
Viognier Dave Highfield
Godello
Aragonez Steve & Deborah De Long
Moscofilero
Assyrtiko – Sofoklis
Tannat Peter Conway
Moscatel
Viosinho
Arinto
Fernao Pires
Gouveio MaJ
Tintilla
Listan Negro Will
Savignan grape Susanne Kuehne
Vidal
Chambourcin
Cayuga
Carignane Peter Conway
Pinela Mary Williams
Brianna
LaCrescent
50. Muscato
Himrod Rosemary
Grenache
Mourvedre
Cinsault Bob Halifax
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
Touriga Franca Brian & Maureen
Roditis
Malagouzia Anna S
Barbera d’Alba
Nebbiolo Corner Wines
Mencia Enotrends
Dornfelder Matt Pruyn
Bobal
Prieto Picudo
Juan Garcia Jamie Webb
Sagrantino Benito
Plavac Mali Candy Arbour
Grenache Blanche
Marsanne
Chenin Blanc
Pinot Gris gil kulers
Cabernet Franc Marilyn Nash
Matrasa Denis Roudenko
Sovereign Opal Larry Burr
Saint Pepin wm. darrell lee
Jacquère Chris Herbert and Nancy Welch
Savatiano James
macabeu
parellada
xarel·lo Steve and Deborah De Long
Traminette
Villard Noir
Lagrein Susan Blomeley
Brachetto d’Acqui Sande
Xinomavro
Riesling
Zinfandel
Petite Sirah Holly Settles
Rabigato
Gouveio
Roupeiro Margaret and Bill Goldstein
Bourboulenc
Clairette Tim Faust
Roussanne Paul Mims
Gamay Dale Cruse
Seyval Blanc Dale brock
Sumoll
Monica
Bovale Sardo
100. Gaglioppo
Egiodola Steven Moore
Ruche Jeff Carroll
Colombard
Ugni Blanc
Gros Marseng Aaron Mandel
Merwah
Obaideh Robin Garr
Lumassina
Tsolikauri Kevin Mosser
Clairette Jay Schneider
Bonardo Phil Watkins
Cynthiana Robert Austin
Zilavka Jackie Rogers
Blatina Bob Rogers
Oküzgözu
Bogaskere
Grolleau Noir
Pineau d’Aunis
Rkatsiteli marc
Edelweiss Susan & Brian Geraghty
Corot Noir
DeChaunac
Noiret
Valvin Muscat
Folle Blanche Kramer
Verdelho
Petit manseng
petit verdot Richard Leahy and Aimosaur a k a wineosaurus
Prosecco/Glera
Tamaioasa Anatoli Levine
Malbec
Primitivo Dennis Sullivan
Catarratto
Albarino Clark D’Elia
Passerina Bill Frazier
Petite Milo
Epicure Bob Halifax
Freisa
Ciliegiolo
Dolcetto
Petite Rouge
Fumin
Premetta
Corvina
Montepulciano Chris Hamm
Tinta Barroca
Musque ra
Fiano Steve and Deborah De Long
Sylvaner
150. Auxerrois
Chaselas Nick Underwood
Mavrud Ann Salisbury
Maria Gomes Kevin Armstrong
Picpout Blanc Vincent Williams
Lesvos paul
Inzolia
Trepat
Pinot Meunier Olli Heikkilä and Timo Jokinen The Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine
Mauzac
Pecorino
Arrufiac Alex Bardsley
Schiava Alan J. Hess
Chardonel
Romorantin Tom Reagan, Dennis Sullivan and Parks Redwine
Mececata
Tibouron Greg Kozar
Norton Greg Teese
Rhoditis
Fileri Russ Frates
Merenillo
Tallet Tom Wolff
Samso Claude Nobauer
173. Calkarasi Susan
Tocai Friulano
Corvina
Molinara
Rondinella Tony Fletcher
Caino Tinto
179. Pedro Ximénez Debbie Attias

Democracy Now! Elections this Fall!

Kim Jong Il WineIt’s come to my attention that being President For Life is going out of style. To lower my risk of exile or a long embarrassingly sad reign complete with bad haircuts, I’ve decided to abdicate my position starting this fall. Since my eldest son is too young, an election will be held. With great reluctance, I’ve allowed UN observers to watch the stuffing of the ballot boxes monitor the election.

The specifics are still vague but will materialize in the next month.